The string band scene has exploded in Santa Cruz. But before there was any sign of a bluegrass or Americana revival, there were a handful of finger-plucking folky bands in town building a noticeable following, like Mylo Jenkins.

They have been on hiatus the past three years, but on Friday August 29th, they return to play the first of what should be many shows.Mylo Jenkins started eight years ago as a three-piece, but by the time they’d called it quits they were seven members strong.

“It was kind of a slow, gradual addition of members. We’d bring someone in to do a couple songs and their role would expand a little more,” says singer/guitarist Dan Kocher. “We’ve been a really loose band anyway. Everyone says it’s like a relationship. It was a friends-with-benefits kind of thing—we would switch instruments if people couldn’t make it.”

As a three-piece, Kocher wrote densely packed singer-songwriter-focused country tunes inspired by Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. The backing musicians accented what he brought, but with more members Kocher’s songwriting style shifted.

During its initial run, Mylo Jenkins released just one album—which was from their early era. Before they went on hiatus, they wrote a bunch of new, more spacious and eclectic songs, which they hope to record now that they are back together.

“These songs were more directed towards a band, rather than songs coming out of someone’s bedroom,” Kocher says. “If you liked the last stuff, you’d probably like this stuff, too.”

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Until March 20, (Spring Equinox), Earth and her kingdoms (mineral, plant, animal, human) experience the influence of Pisces, sign of the World Savior. Whereas the task of Aquarius is as world server, the Pisces task is saving the world—tasks given to the two fishes. Pisces never really enters matter, and as the last sign of the zodiac includes all the signs. During Pisces, having gathered all the gifts of the previous 11 signs, it is a good time to prepare for new initiating plans when Aries (sign of beginnings) begins. No wonder Pisces, like Scorpio, is so difficult (both are ruled by Pluto, planet of death, new life, regeneration, transformations). Both signs (with Scorpio drowning in dark and deep waters) find life on Earth a hardship, disorienting (from the spiritual perspective), at times feeling betrayed. Life is a paradox, especially for Pisces.
Each zodiacal sign represents and distributes a different phase and facet (12) of the Soul’s diamond light, Pisces is the “Light of Life itself, ending forever the darkness of matter.” It takes two fish to complete this work (creating eventually an extraordinary human being). One fish turned toward the material world (in order to understand matter), the other fish toward the heavenly world. Around the two fish is a silvery cord binding them together. The two fish are forever bound until all of humanity is redeemed (lifted up into the Light). This is the dedication of all world saviors (Buddha, Christ, the NGWS). Thus the sacrifice and suffering experienced by Pisces. Knowing these things about Pisces, let us help them all we can. Sometimes all of humanity is Pisces.

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